Fire-escape



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(No Model.)

2, .fu e e h. S m e e h.. S 3 N. Tl E T S ml.. ml. E W H A Y FIREESCAPE.

Patented Feb. 24, 1885.

@o7-nega (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

H. WBTTSTEIN.

FIRE ESCAPE.

No. 312.683. Patentedfeb. 24, 1885.'

s tal position on uneven surfaces, and the device iii-'Nrrnn .STATESPATENT rrrcn. i

FIRE-ESCAPE. j

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Pate-nt No. 312,683, datedFebruary 24:, 1885. v Application tiled May 9', 1884. (No model.)

Improvement-s in Fire-Escapes; and I do hereby declare the following tobe afull,clear, and exact description of the invention, such-as willenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usethe same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, andV toletters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part ofthis specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a device which is adapted to soyield beneath the weight of a person that he may safely jump thereonfrom the highest building without sustaining any injurious shock,whereby when other means of escape are cut off persons may be thusrescued from a burning building.

My'invention relates to the devices by which I suspend one or moreflexible fabrics by springs or elastic straps from a frame' orsupporting standards at a distance from the ground, adapted to yield andbreak the shock of a person alighting thereon, which fabrics, when morethan one are used, are-arranged one above another. .My inventionpertains also to the Vconstruction of the frame and the standards, andthe means of attaching such parts and the fabrics together; also to the,

1 shields by which my escape may be brought in close proximity to a iirewithout injury to the persons using or conveying it; also, to the mannerof adjusting the device in a horizonfor locking the casters orwheelsupon which it rolls, and to the general construction andarrangement of all the parts, whereby they are adapted to be taken apartwhen moved and packed in small space when not in use.

My invention is further explained by reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Figure 1 representsa perspective view. Fig. 2 is anend view, with one side and end shield attached. Fig. 3 represents oneof the legs removed, showing the manner of attach-4 ing it.

Fig. 4is adetail. Fig. 5 is a perspect-iveview of an equivalent form ofa frame for supporting a single fabric.

j Like parts are represented bythe same reference-letters throughout theseveral views.

A is a substantial frame, which may be made whole or formed in twoparts, B B, which are connected together by hinges C G,which hingespermit said parts BB to be folded together in small space when not inuse.

D are cushions, which are formed upon the upper surface of the frame toprevent injurious contact therewith if the person alights thereon. j i

-E are supporting-legs, which are temporaril'y secured beneath the frameA when set up by hook M and staple N and pins au. The pins a a arerigidly affixed 'to the legs only, and may be withdrawn from the holesprovided therefor in the frame when desirous to pack the frame in alimited space.

F and G are coarse cloth fabrics or net-work upon which the personalights when jumping from the building. rlhe fabric F is preferablyformed of a small rope i or cord, which is suspended from the sides andends of the frame A, to which it is secured by the series of pins orbuttons H H in such a manner that when the weight of a person is broughtto bear on any portion of the fabric the slack in all the other parts ofthe fabric is taken up, thus preventing the shock to the personalighting that would otherwise occur. Over the cord fabric F is thrown afabric or canvas like G,(shown in Fig. 5,) having elastic straps C',which are attached to the sides of the frame A by said strips, whichprevents a person passing between the meshes of the cord -of the fabric.

I are casters or wheels upon which the .frame may be rolled from placeto place, as

occasion may require. The casters l are provided with holes b and pin d,by Awhich they are locked and the frame prevented from moving when onuneven ground, the wheels being locked by inserting the pin through anyone of the holes therein, as shown in Fig. l.

To insure greater safety to the person when jumping from a great height@provide one or more fabrics, arranged above the frame A' upon standardsJ, which are supported from the corners, sides, and ends of the fram'eAin holes K. The holes K are preferably made in the peculiarsemicircular shape shown,

and the lower ends ofthe standards are formed to iit therein. Theobjectof making the holes and standards of such peculiar shape is toprevent the liability of the standards being inserted with the hooks Kat their upper ends turned the wrong way, it being important to have thehooks inclined inward with the points of the hooks turned outward, asshown. The hooks K are supported above the standards J by rods L, andmay or may not be formed of the same pieceof metal. The lower ends ofthe rods L are adjustably secured to the standards by retaining-claspsM, and may be raised or lowered and adjusted at any point desiredcorresponding with the notches N N. The lower part of the rods L arebent outward slightly from the standards J, leaving asmall space betweenthe rod and standard, which will permit of said lower ends being sprunglinward toward the standards far enough to disengage the lower clasp Mfrom the notches N when desirous to adjust said rods.

It is obvious that by thus providing for the vertical adjustment of therods L,I am enabled to adjust the upper fabric, G, in a horizontal planeregardless of the surface of the ground upon which the escape stands,andalso, if desired, to give the front end or side an upward inclination,so that the person jumping thereon will be less liable to pitch forwardwhen alighting.

To enable a person to be more readily removed from the upper part of theescape,the

p center of one end ofthe fabric G is supported from the upper end of aswing-lever, O. The lever O is attached to the standard -by a pivotalbolt, I), which permits the upper end of the lever to be inclined inwardand downward with the fabric, thus lowering the end of the fabric, sothat a person thereon may readily slide therefrom. The lever O isretained in the vertical by the chain Q and hook R. The end of the hookIt preferably inclines downward, so that as soon as the chain isslackened it will drop from the hook of its own gravity, thus saving thetime otherwise required in unhooking it.

The center of the fabric G is supported and prevented from sagging bythe spiral springs S, which are suspended at their respective ends fromthe side standards, J. Spiral springs T 'I are also interposed betweenthe ends of the fabric G and the end standards, which are adapted toyield under the weight of a person and relieve him of the shock which hewould otherwise sustain. Then the height of the building is such thattwo fabrics F and G are not required, a single fabric, G', may besupported by standards J from the radial armed frame U, as shown inFigs. 4 and 5.

The frame U consists in the angular pieces A' A', which are halvedtogether, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, when a' third binding or retainingbar, B', is placed across them, as shown in Fig. 5, whereby all theparts are retained to gether. The ends of the standardsJ are fitted insemicircular holes in the radial frame the same as thosein frame A,described'as shown. in Fig. l.

. The fabric G is attached to the standards by elastic straps C'. Spiralsprings may, however, be substituted therefor, if desired.

When desired to move the escape in close proximity to a fire, it may besafely handled by suspending from one or more of its sides and ends, andheld by hooks or rings to lower part of escape, fire-proof shields orfabrics, D D', as shown in Fig. 2,whereby persons carrying or rollingthe escape may stand between the frame A and the shield D', and thusmove the escape, if need be, in Contact with the flames Without danger.

The shields D' may be made of cloth covered with asbestus, sheet metal,or any other non-combustible material, as desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a fire-escape, the combination of the frame A and series of pins HH with the open supporting-fabric F, secured to said pins H H, and thecanvas or net-work G', supported on and overlying said fabric F,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination of the frame A, provided with rope fabric F, securedto the frame by series of pins or buttons H, legs E, and caster-rolls I,provided with pin-holes b and pin d, said pin being adapted to preventsaid caster-rolls from turning and the escape from rolling, as setforth.

3. The combination, in a fireescape, of' the frame A, having legs E,fabric F, cushions D, standards J, and fabric G, as set forth.

4. In a fire-escape, the combination of the folding frame A, formed intwo parts, B B, secured together by hinges C, legs E, cushions D,standards J, and fabrics F and G, as set forth.

5. The combination, in a fire-escape, of the frame A, formed in twoparts, B B, secured together by hinges C C, cushions D, fabric F and G',legs E, detachabl y secured to said frame A by pins a a, andcaster-rollers I, provided with holes b and fastening-pins d,'as setforth.

6. The combination, in a fire-escape, of the frame A, legs E, fabric F,standards J, fabric G, and shields D D', as set forth.

7. In a fire-escape, the combination, with 'the upper ends of thesupporting-standards J,

of theAadjustable rods L, provided with series of notches N,retaining-clasps M, hooks K, and fabric G, as set forth.

S. In a fire-escape, the combination, with the frame A, of the standardsJ, lever O, secured to the standard by pivotal bolt P, fabric G, chainQ, and hook B, as set forth.

9. Inafireescape, the combination of frame A, formed in two partssecured together by hinges G C, fabric F, detachable legs E, secured tothe frame by pins a a, casters I, pro- IOO vided with holes b,fastening-pin d, cushions In testimony whereof I affix my signature inD, standards J, fitted to semioireular holes K, presence of twoWitnesses. provided therefor in frame A, fabric G, secured to saidstandards by adjustable rods L, HERMAN WETTSTEN.

5 having1 notches N, adapted to engage in clasps v M, end standard J',lever O, chain Q, and `Witnesses: hook R, all Vsubstantialiy as and forthe pur- KATE PUTNAM, pose specified. I M. A. ADAMS.

